Anderlecht Pursue Santi Garcia as Saliba Replacement

Anderlecht’s response to losing Nathan Saliba to Villarreal is starting to take shape. The Belgian club have turned their attention to Santi Garcia, the Gil Vicente midfielder who has quietly built a strong reputation in Portugal.

According to HLN, Anderlecht are exploring a deal for the 24-year-old, with Gil Vicente initially holding out for a fee north of €10m. That stance has softened slightly, with the Portuguese side now thought to be open to selling for a little less. Even so, the club want Garcia to go down as the most expensive outgoing transfer in their history. That’s the benchmark they’ve set.

It would cap a rapid rise.

Garcia came through at Getafe, training with the Spanish side but managing just a single first-team appearance. In 2024 he walked away from Spanish football and joined Gil Vicente on a free transfer, a low-key move that has since looked like a steal.

He settled immediately. Thirty games in his first season, four goals, two assists, and a regular starting role. Solid numbers, consistent minutes, and a growing influence in midfield.

Then came the real leap.

Last season, Garcia delivered what can fairly be called his breakout campaign: six goals and three assists across 34 matches, driving play from midfield and putting himself firmly on the radar of clubs with bigger budgets and bigger ambitions.

Now Anderlecht, reshaping their midfield after Saliba’s departure, are testing how high Gil Vicente’s valuation really is. If they push this over the line, they won’t just be signing a replacement. They’ll be paying for a midfielder whose trajectory is still pointing up.